News

Brevard Music Center books stars for 80th season

'The Magic Flute' comes to the stage at the Porter Center at Brevard College on Thursday, July 14, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, July 16, at 2 p.m.

By Bill Moss, Published: July 5, 2016

BREVARD — Brevard Music Center’s 80th anniversary season continues with an extraordinary roster of world-class artists including conductor Keith Lockhart, Mason Bates, Robert Moody, Matthias Bamert, Inon Barnatan and Nicole Cabell, complemented by a diverse offering of symphony and opera programming for music lovers of all ages.

“The launch of our 2016 Summer Music Festival has drawn unprecedented audiences and accolades to the Brevard Music Center in response to a ‘spectacular’ weekend of opening concerts,” said Brevard Music Center President Mark Weinstein. “Plus, our new $2.5 million acoustic shell and associated renovations at Whittington-Pfohl Auditorium are showcasing our artists and musicians as never before.”
The Friday, July 8, performance features "An Alpine Symphony" – a majestic orchestration depicting the epic journey of climbing a mountain. The 7:30 p.m. program showcases conductor Matthias Bamert, celebrated Israeli pianist Inon Barnatan, and the Brevard Music Center Orchestra at Whittington-Pfohl Auditorium.

On Saturday, July 9, at 7:30 p.m. conductor Ken Lam leads the Brevard Sinfonia in “A Night at the Movies,” a thrilling anthology celebrating 80 years of Academy Award-winning music including the Suite from The English Patient, Suite from Shakespeare in Love, and “Adventure on Earth” from E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, among others. Lead Sponsor of A Night at the Movies is Jerome and Summey.
The unforgettable weekend will draw to a conclusion on Sunday, July 10, at 3 p.m., with Ken Lam leading violinist Eduardo Rios and the Brevard Concert Orchestra in a sweet Sunday afternoon performance at Whittington-Pfohl. The dramatic and colorful program includes Bizet’s L'Arlésienne Suite No. 2, Falla’s Suite No. 2 from The Three-Cornered Hat, Saint-Saens’s Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso, and more.
BMC’s Janiec Opera Company brings "The Magic Flute," Mozart’s captivating and playful story, to the stage at the Porter Center (Brevard College) on Thursday, July 14 at 7:30 p.m. and again on Sunday, July 16, at 2 p.m. Lead Sponsors of A Night at the Movies are an Anonymous Benefactor and Loyal Friend of Brevard Music Center; Sustaining Sponsor is the Zimmerli Family Opera Endowment.
On Friday, July 15, world-famous American soprano Nicole Cabell joins conductor Keith Lockhart and the Brevard Music Center Orchestra for an exciting performance of Strauss’s Four Last Songs, followed by Maestro Lockhart conducting Mahler’s Symphony No. 5. The evening of outstanding performances begins at Whittington-Pfohl Auditorium at 7:30 PM and is being presented in memory of Maestro Henry Janiec, BMC’s second Artistic Director.
Saturday, July 16, reunites Brevard alumni Robert Moody and Mason Bates for a rousing program including Hector Berlioz’s wild ride, Symphonie Fantastique, and Bates’ own electronica compositions including his acclaimed Rusty Air in Carolina. This marvelous reunion event kicks off at 7:30 PM at the Whittington-Pfohl Auditorium.

The remaining weeks of the 2016 Brevard Summer Music Festival features a full schedule of performances, including the upcoming Dvořák in America Festival (July 25-29) and Grammy-nominated singer songwriter Gillian Welch (Aug. 19) in collaboration with Mountain Song Productions.

Kiwanis scholarship winners

Winners of $5,000 scholarship awarded by the Hendersonville Kiwanis Club last week were, from left, Amanda Hilliard of North Henderson High School, Dawson Walker of Hendersonville High School and Ashlee Mew of HHS. Hilliard, the daughter of
Rick and Teresa Hilliard, plans to study geology at Western Carolina University. Walker, the son of Greg and Lois Walker, plans to study engineering at Clemson University. Mew, the daughter of Graham and Linda Mew, plans to study international business at the University of San Diego.